Son and daughter preferences in Benighat, Nepal: implications for fertility transition

Married women in Benighat, Nepal stressed old age security and continuity of lineage as prominent reasons for wanting sons. In addition, women clearly desired daughters too--an important finding that is less often stressed. Religious reasons and help with household chores were the most common reasons reported for wanting a daughter. Strong desires for sons could increase fertility in settings where fertility is controlled. Additional desires for daughters could have an additional pronatalist influence. For Benighat we document a pervasive desire for at least two sons and at least one daughter. If realized, these sex composition preferences would increase fertility by 50 per cent. Actual effects are no doubt smaller, but the effects of sex preference on the desire for more children and on contraceptive use are clearly visible.     

Long-duration intracavitary infusion of methotrexate with systemic leucovorin protection in patients with malignant effusions

18 patients with malignant effusions were treated with continuous intraperitoneal, intrapleural, or intrapericardial infusion of methotrexate (MTX) 30 mg/m2 per d combined with simultaneous intravenous administration of leucovorin at a dose rate calculated to yield an equimolar concentration in the serum. In the serum the geometric mean steady-state MTX concentration was 0.95 microM, whereas it was 24 microM in the peritoneal, 213 microM in the pleural, and 434 microM in the pericardial cavities. Mean clearance was 6.6 ml/min from the peritoneal cavity, 2.6 ml/min from the pleural cavity, and 0.14 ml/min from the pericardial cavity. Leucovorin provided sufficient protection to allow the duration of infusion to be escalated from 24 to 120 h before myelosuppression was encountered. Marrow thymidylate synthetase activity was inhibited by an average of 46% compared to 86% inhibition in malignant cells in the effusions. Flow cytometric analysis showed no perturbation of the cell cycle phase distribution of marrow cells. All eight of the evaluable patients have responded: three received no other form of therapy, five also received systemic hormonal or chemotherapy. This study demonstrated that tumors confined to third space body fluids can be given very high concentration x time exposures to MTX with minimal systemic toxicity.     

Seroepidemiologic studies of hantavirus infection among wild rodents in California

To assess the functional significance of putative proteins encoded by alternately spliced mRNA of the sheep testicular FSH receptor, a short form cDNA comprising of the first four exons (117 residues mature protein) was engineered for expression in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein of molecular mass 15 kDa was purified to homogeneity and verified by reaction with an antibody against a synthetic peptide sequence unique to the amino (N)-terminal region FSH receptor. The purified FSH receptor domain protein bound 125I-labeled hFSH in a ligand blot on polyvinylidine difluoride membranes. Further analyses by slot blot revealed high affinity of the immobilized protein with significant reaction at 10 pmol. As the immobilized receptor protein also reacted with structurally related hormones (125I-labeled LH/125I-labeled human chorionic gonadotropin), we confirmed that interaction most probably occurred via the common alpha-subunit of these glycoprotein hormones. Our results reveal that this N-terminal portion of the FSH receptor contain(s) major site(s) for hormone recognition that could be mediated via the alpha-subunit. A rabbit antibody to the receptor inhibited FSH action in receptor bearing cells, revealing the utility of such recombinant FSH receptor protein(s) for modulation of hormone action.     

Phase I/II trial of combined 131I anti-CEA monoclonal antibody and hyperthermia in patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: This pilot project was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity of and tumor response to combined 131I anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody (131I anti-CEA RMoAb) and hyperthermia in patients with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Nine patients who had colorectal carcinoma with liver metastases were enrolled in this study. Intact 131I anti-CEA RMoAb was used (the specific antibody was IMMU-4, provided by Immunomedics, Inc., Morris Plains, NJ). During the diagnostic phase, dosimetry revealed that the tumor site received a higher radiation dose than the surrounding normal tissues in only six patients. These six, who were treated with radioimmunotherapy and hyperthermia, were the basis of this study. The first three patients were treated with 30 mCi/m2 of 131I anti-CEA RMoAb, and the next three received 60 mCi/m2. Pharmacokinetic clearance data were reported for all nine patients. RESULTS: Thermometry data revealed an average T90 of 40.3 (+/- 1.4 degrees C) and T50 of 41.1 (+/- 1.2 degrees C). The average thermal dose equivalent at 42.5 degrees C was 34.5 (+/- 21.5) minutes. The average Tmin, Tmax, and Tmeam were 40 (+/- 1.2 degrees C), 42.4 (+/- 0.7 degrees C), and 41.1 (+/- 1.1 degrees C), respectively. The pharmacokinetic clearance data of antibody showed monoexponential plasma clearances in all patients except one, in whom a biexponential plasma clearance was observed. In general, similar plasma and whole-body clearances as well as similar urinary excretions were observed when diagnostic and therapeutic phases for each patient were compared. Two of the six patients showed a marked improvement in their symptoms; five patients showed a drop in carcinoembryonic antigen levels. A follow-up computed tomography scan one month after treatment showed no change in tumor volume in five patients; one patient showed a partial response. Three patients developed toxicity, two developed moderate thrombocytopenia (39,000 and 58,000), and the other patient developed hematoma resulting from the insertion of a catheter for thermometry. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to combine hyperthermia and radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies, and the combination was well tolerated by these patients. The interaction between hyperthermia and low dose rate radioimmunotherapy is complex. Further studies are necessary to explore the use of this combined modality in the management of maligancies.     

A metabolic syndrome in whites and African-Americans. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities baseline study

The efficacy of microspheres made of polylactic acid polyglycolic acid copolymer mixed with blood clot as a delivery system for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) was evaluated and the long term behaviour of rhBMP-2 in rats was studied. Twenty micro grams of rhBMP-2 in 200 microliter carrier (blood coagulum and polylactic acid polyglycolic acid porous microspheres) were implanted subcutaneously over both sides of the chest muscles in 40 5-week-old male Long Evans rats. The control group were implanted with carrier alone. Specimens were retrieved after 3 days and weekly for 9 weeks. Outcome was measured by signs of bone formation on low power radiographs, and signs of bony growth on histological examination. There were no signs of foreign body or inflammatory reactions to the carrier in either group. In the experimental group signs of bone formation had started to appear by the end of the first week, and there was a gradual increase in both radio-opacity and size during the observation period. Histologically the bony growth was beginning to mature by 4 weeks and was fully mature by 7-9 weeks. In contrast there was no sign of cartilage or bone formation in the control group and the carrier had resorbed by 4-6 weeks. It is concluded that rhBMP-2 implanted in a carrier consisting of blood clot and porous microspheres made of polylactic acid polyglycolic acid induces rapid proliferation of mesenchymal cells that lead to formation of cartilage and bone by 7 days which had matured by 9 weeks. rhBMP-2 in this carrier may be useful clinically because of its capacity to induce early formation of bone.     

腐植酸作为天然有机物(NOM)的主要类型对环糊精聚氨酯去除水中异味的影响

目前,水处理机构普遍认为,天然有机物会妨碍活性炭的吸附位点与异味化合物结合,进而导致对甲萘烷醇和2-甲基异茨醇的清除效率下降。腐植酸也被认为具有相同的作用。对于城市水处理系统来说,饮用水中异味化合物如甲萘烷醇和2-甲基异茨醇的清除至关重要。已证实,环糊精聚氨酯可清除水中有机污染物,但不会显著降低天然有机物的含量。我们希望确定在有天然有机物存在的条件下,该聚合物是否能够有选择地去除甲萘烷醇和2-甲基异茨醇。本研究以腐植酸为天然有机物代表,因腐植酸约占天然有机物的70%。研究表明,不同浓度腐植酸的存在不会影响甲萘烷醇和2-甲基异茨醇的清除,使用环糊精聚合物,90%的异味化合物被去除。同时,紫外分析表明只有少量的腐植酸(3%～20%)被去除。